“Kyra Saliem, I swear to god I would be nowhere in this program without you,” Alice groaned, taking note of Kyra’s advice in an afternoon that is now in the present time.

The anthropology grad students were still in the library, taking the time to share feedback and exchange words of encouragement on their theses. The 27-year-old Chandra sat among them, smiling quietly to herself as the other grad students agreed with Kyra’s advice.

Kyra laughed. “What are you talking about? You already had all the right arguments in place,” she tapped Alice’s notes on the table, connecting the ones that had related material. “You just needed to refocus on what you wanted to say.”

Alice sighed. “I know,” she leaned back in her chair before pulling her hood back up on her head. “But your super brain pointed out where I lost track of my point. It's just—misogynistic warnet, internet cafe, culture is such an endless topic on its own!”

Nadira, who was sitting next to her, patted Alice’s shoulder with a smile. “And you of all people could write a whole thesis about that, Lis! But you gotta go easy on yourself since we only have so much time.”

“Yeah, you're right,” Alice folded her arms in front of her chest. “I think I'm gonna take Kyra's advice. Focusing on this all-female pro gamer group I interviewed will definitely help me finish revisions in time,” she turned to smile tiredly at Kyra. “Thanks, Kir. Man, I wish my brain worked like yours.”

Kyra shook her head, smiling. “You honestly had everything you already needed. Plus I used to hate anthropology writing quite a bit, you know,” Kyra leaned her cheek on her hand. “I just had a lot of help when I was in undergrad.”

Chandra blinked when Kyra’s eyes, in a moment so brief that it could’ve been missed, met hers. 

“Ah, undergrad,” Nadira laughed, leaning her chin on her hands, seemingly oblivious to their eye contact. She turned towards Kyra. “I honestly have a hard time believing you used to hate anthropology writing! Since you’re like, Prof Maria’s star student.”

Chandra raised her eyebrows.

Kyra laughed. “I am not!” she waved her hand to deny the compliment.

“C'mon now, Kir,” Egles grinned. She poked Kyra’s arm. “Don’t try to be humble now when you basically have Prof Maria on speed dial.”

The other grad students laughed and joined Egles in teasing Kyra, who continued to playfully wave their teasing away. Chandra smiled before joining the others in laughter. 

“Oh—guys!” Nadira gasped, looking at the time on her phone. She abruptly stood up. “The thesis defense schedule should be out by now. We gotta go!”

“Ah, right,” Egles sighed, standing up with her. “The defense schedule. You’d think they would just send it to us through email or group chat, but they just have to put it up on our crusty bulletin board.”

The other grad students laughed and echoed her sentiment, standing one by one to begin gathering their belongings. 

“Well, Kak,” Nadira smiled at Chandra before realizing she had habitually referred to her as her senior. “Ah! I mean, um. Chandra. Looks like we all have to go, but thanks for coming to hang out with us! Maybe we can still keep in touch?”

“Oh, yeah,” Egles turned towards Chandra, slinging her tote bag over one shoulder. “Invite us to your dance company’s performance sometime. I would love to see their work!”

Chandra smiled. “I’ll do that,” she stood to say goodbye. “And if any of you are in the city, please give me a call anytime.”

They clasped each other’s hands, wishing each other well. The other grad students came over to say goodbye to Chandra, wishing her luck and promising to keep in touch. She said a grateful goodbye to Kang Joni with his well-trimmed beard and wished Alice well for her revisions.

After they had all left and turned the corner out of sight, Chandra turned back to grab her backpack before she jolted in surprise. 

There, still sitting in her seat at the table, was Kyra calmly tidying the pages of her notes. She had one side of her hair tucked behind her ear and her long braid resting over one shoulder. The corners of her notes, Chandra noticed in a distant kind of familiarity, were still written with the character 林—Liem.

With the sudden realization that it was now just the two of them at the table, Chandra's heart began to race. She wiped her palms on the pocket of her jeans as the nervousness gradually grew inside the pit of her stomach. 

Here, faced alone with the person she had avoided just days before, she was at a complete loss as to what to do.

She swallowed, her throat suddenly feeling dry. The night before had witnessed her setting the intention to not overstep any boundaries. But now, in the presence of the absent years spread far and wide between them, she wasn’t sure where those boundaries actually were. 

She slowly took a breath. Perhaps it was safer if she simply took her leave afterall, rather than run the risk of causing offense. She quietly reached for the strap of her backpack before finally, Kyra spoke.

“You still read this book?”